How to Stop Someone From Cutting
Cutting is a form of self-mutilation. It is most common in teen girls. However, some boys and some adults also mutilate themselves. Since it is a stress-relieving addiction, it is difficult to make someone stop cutting. The mutilation caused by cutting usually is not a prelude to suicide, but it can cause tissue damage or serious injury.
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Instructions
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Understand the reason the person is cutting. Often the person has been abused or doesn't have a good support network in which to express his emotions.
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Tell the person that you care and you want to help her. Sometimes talking to cutters about it can push them away, so choose your words carefully before approaching them.
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Try to divert the person's attention to something more enjoyable, such as a hobby or fun activity.
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Know that these actions are not because she is a bad child, but because of feelings that are difficult to handle. Look at the person's past issues to try to determine the reasons behind these feelings.
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Offer suggestions to better deal with those feelings. If she is cutting because of anger, have her to try screaming or running; if it is way of calming herself, suggest that she try deep-breathing exercises, yoga or journaling. If she just wants to feel something, try an alternative, such as holding a frozen ice pack or chewing a chili pepper; these activities will achieve the desired goal without causing harm.
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Seek counseling for the child. Often family counseling is needed to figure out the realm of the teen's self-aggressive feelings.
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Encourage the person to talk to someone about his feelings, such as a doctor, minister or family member.
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Tips & Warnings
Other ways people cause harm to themselves are burning, branding, picking at wounds, hair pulling or piercing.
Communication is a key issue for healing.
Do not belittle the person. It could make the problem worse.
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Comments
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thank you
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helpme657
Jan 23, 2011
god, i feel as though i am another helpless teen. but i am running out of options. my girlfriend is a cutter due to her moms constant arguing. sience we have been dating, three months, i have tried to get her to stop. she wants to but doesnt. she has no other ways to cope with her emotions. she last her razor at one point. she got another one about a week and a half later. she had a break down and gave it to me because she "doesnt wnat to lose me" and during that time when she did not have anything to cut she went through withdraw and attempted to break up several times. she was almost pver then she found a pocket knife. so she started cutting again. i have been talking to her about it and told her it has starting to irritate me. she is giving me the pocket knife but she is really mad at me about it. she surfers from depression and being bipolar. i have put up with the last of it. i... -
pixiequeen561
Dec 04, 2010
i have a boyfriend that i love with all my heart and he is 14 and im trying to help him but i dont know what to do and he tells me that i need to find someone better than him but i dont want to i love him and i want him help him what do i do to help him?
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felixb666xd
Sep 11, 2009
Continued: Make them feel comfortable. I hope I have Helped, and good luck. I hope your friend stops. Self harm is an addiction to some people. they would love to stop, but they cant. they need help.
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felixb666xd
Sep 11, 2009
I am helping my friend through it. What you need to do, is talk to your friend, while they are doing it. before they commit to doing it, ask them how they feel. ask them, is this the way forward? is this the way to go about it? why do you feel this way? what can you do, to prevent yourself feeling like this? ask them is there anything else they can do, instead of this. Tell them, about the regret they will feel later. ask them, is the regret and pain worth it? after they have done it, if they sadly have; ask them how do you feel now? how do you feel? was it worth it? (be kind, and sympathetic, it will make them feel better) tell them what else could you have done? next time you feel this urge, please, talk to me first, i want to help you stop, and if you want to aswell, its easier to do it talking to someone. tell them, to think about what they have just done. This is what I'd do, Ma...
